Data Protection Declaration

3) Hosting & Content Delivery Network
For the hosting of our website and the presentation of the page content, we use a provider that provides its services itself or through selected subcontractors exclusively on servers within the European Union.

All data collected on our website is processed on these servers.

We have concluded an order processing contract with the provider, which ensures the protection of the data of our website visitors and prohibits unauthorised disclosure to third parties.

4) Cookies
In order to make your visit to our website more attractive and to enable the use of certain functions, we use cookies, i.e. small text files that are stored on your end device. In some cases, these cookies are automatically deleted again after the browser is closed (so-called “session cookies”), in other cases, these cookies remain on your end device for longer and allow page settings to be saved (so-called “persistent cookies”). In the latter case, you can find the duration of the storage in the overview of the cookie settings of your web browser.

If personal data is also processed by individual cookies set by us, the processing is carried out either in accordance with Art. 6 (1) point b GDPR for the performance of the contract, in accordance with Art. 6 (1) point a GDPR in the case of consent given or in accordance with Art. 6 (1) point f GDPR to safeguard our legitimate interests in the best possible functionality of the website as well as a customer-friendly and effective design of the page visit.

You can set your browser in such a way that you are informed about the setting of cookies and you can decide individually about their acceptance or exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general.

Please note that the functionality of our website may be limited if cookies are not accepted.

6) Use of Client Data for Direct Advertising
Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter

If you register for our e-mail newsletter, we will regularly send you information about our offers. The only mandatory data for sending the newsletter is your e-mail address. The provision of further data is voluntary and will be used to address you personally. We use the so-called double opt-in procedure for sending the newsletter. This means that we will only send you an e-mail newsletter once you have expressly confirmed that you consent to receiving newsletters. We will then send you a confirmation e-mail asking you to confirm that you wish to receive the newsletter in future by clicking on an appropriate link.

By activating the confirmation link, you give us your consent for the use of your personal data pursuant to Art. 6 (1) point a GPPR. When you register for the newsletter, we store your IP address entered by your Internet service provider (ISP) as well as the date and time of registration for the purpose of tracing any possible misuse of your e-mail address at a later date. The data collected by us when you register for the newsletter is used exclusively for the promotional purposes by way of the newsletter. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time via the link provided for this purpose in the newsletter or by sending a corresponding message to the responsible person named at the beginning. After unsubscribing, your e-mail address will be deleted from our newsletter distribution list immediately, unless you have expressly consented to further use of your data, or we reserve the right to a more extensive use your data which is permitted by law and about which we inform you in this declaration.

7) Web Analysis Services

Google Analytics 4

This website uses Google Analytics 4, a service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland (“Google”), which can be used to analyze the use of websites.

When using Google Analytics 4, so-called “cookies” are used as standard. Cookies are text files that are stored on your terminal device and enable an analysis of your use of a website. The information collected by cookies about your use of the website (including the IP address transmitted by your terminal device, shortened by the last digits, see below) is usually transmitted to a Google server and stored and processed there. This may also result in the transmission of information to the servers of Google LLC, a company based in the USA, where the information is further processed.

When using Google Analytics 4, the IP address transmitted by your terminal device when you use the website is always collected and processed by default and automatically only in an anonymized manner, so that a direct personal reference of the collected information is excluded. This automatic anonymization is carried out by shortening the IP address transmitted by your terminal device by Google within member states of the European Union (EU) or other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) by the last digits.

On our behalf, Google uses this and other information to evaluate your use of the website, to compile reports (reports) on your website activities or your usage behavior and to provide us with other services related to your website usage and internet usage. In this context, the IP address transmitted and shortened by your terminal device within the scope of Google Analytics 4 will not be merged with other data from Google. The data collected in the context of the use of Google Analytics 4 will be retained for 2 months and then deleted.

Google Analytics 4 also enables the creation of statistics with statements about age, gender and interests of website users on the basis of an evaluation of interest-based advertising and with the involvement of third-party information via a special function, the so-called “demographic characteristics”. This makes it possible to determine and distinguish between groups of website users for the purpose of targeting marketing measures. However, data collected via the “demographic characteristics” cannot be assigned to a specific person and thus not to you personally. This data collected via the “demographic characteristics” function is retained for two months and then deleted.

All processing described above, in particular the setting of Google Analytics cookies for the storage and reading of information on the terminal device used by you for the use of the website, will only take place if you have given us your express consent for this in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR. Without your consent, Google Analytics 4 will not be used during your use of the website.

You can revoke your consent once given at any time with effect for the future. To exercise your revocation, please deactivate this service via the “Cookie Consent Tool” provided on the website.

Google Signals
On this website, the “Google Signals” service can also be used as an extension of Google Analytics 4. With Google Signals, cross-device reports can be created by Google (so-called “cross-device tracking”). If you have activated “personalised ads” in your Google account settings and you have linked your internet-enabled devices to your Google account, Google can analyse user behaviour across devices and create database models based on this, provided you have given your consent to the use of Google Analytics in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 letter a GDPR (see above). The logins and device types of all page visitors who were logged into a Google account and performed a conversion are taken into account. The data shows, among other things, on which device you first clicked on an ad and on which device the associated conversion took place. Insofar as Google Signals is used, we do not receive any personal data from Google, but only statistics compiled on the basis of Google Signals. You have the option of deactivating the “personalised ads” function in the settings of your Google account and thus turning off the cross-device analysis. To do this, follow the instructions on this page: https://support.google.com/ads/answer/2662922?hl=de
Further information can be found here: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/7532985?hl=de

User IDs
As an extension of Google Analytics 4, the “UserIDs” function can also be used on this website. By assigning individual UserIDs, we can have Google create cross-device reports (so-called “cross-device tracking”). This means that your usage behaviour can also be analysed across devices if you have given your corresponding consent to the use of Google Analytics in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 letter a GDPR, if you have set up a personal account by registering on this website and are logged into your personal account on different end devices with your relevant login data. The data collected in this way shows, among other things, on which end device you clicked on an ad for the first time and on which end device the relevant conversion took place.

We have concluded a so-called data processing agreement with Google for our use of Google Analytics 4, by which Google is obliged to protect the data of our website users and not to pass it on to third parties.

For data transfers to the USA, the provider participates in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which ensures compliance with the European level of data protection on the basis of an adequacy decision by the European Commission.

Further legal information on Google Analytics 4 can be found here: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en and https://business.safety.google/privacy/

Details on the processing triggered by Google Analytics 4 and Google’s handling of data from websites can be found here: https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites

8) Site functionalities

8.1 Google reCAPTCHA
On this website, we use the CAPTCHA service of the following provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland

Data may also be transmitted to: Google LLC, USA. For the visual design of the CAPTCHA window, the provider uses “Google Fonts”, i.e., fonts loaded from the Internet by Google. No further information is processed except that mentioned above, which is already transmitted to Google via the functionality of ReCaptcha.

The service checks whether an input is made by a natural person or abusively by machine and automated processing with the aim of blocking spam, DDoS attacks and similar automated malicious attacks. To ensure whether an action is performed by a human being and not by an automated bot, the provider collects the IP address of the end device used, the recognition data of the browser, the operating system type and the date and duration of the visit and transmits these data to the provider’s servers to be evaluated.

This process is based on our legitimate interest in determining individual responsibility when using the Internet and in preventing abuse and spam in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

We have concluded an order processing contract with the provider, ensuring the protection of our site visitors’ data and prohibiting unauthorized disclosure to third parties.

For data transfers to the USA, the provider participates in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which ensures compliance with the European level of data protection on the basis of an adequacy decision by the European Commission.

Further information on Google’s privacy standards can be found here: https://business.safety.google/privacy/

8.2 Microsoft Teams
We use this provider to conduct online meetings, video conferences and/or webinars: Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399 USA

The provider processes different data, whereby the scope of the processed data depends on the data you provide before or during the participation in an online meeting, video conference or webinar. Your data as a communication participant is processed and stored on servers of the provider. This may include, in particular, your registration data (name, e-mail address, telephone number (optional) and password) and session data (topic, participant IP address, device information, description (optional)). In addition, participants’ image and sound contributions as well as voice input in chats may be processed.

For the processing of personal data that is necessary for the performance of a contract with you (this also applies to processing operations that are necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures), Art. 6 (1) point b GDPR serves as the legal basis. If you have given us your consent to process your data, the processing is based on Art. 6 (1) point a GDPR. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future.
In addition, the legal basis for data processing when conducting online meetings, video conferences or webinars is our legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6 (1) point f GDPR in the effective conduct of the online meeting, webinar or video conference.

We have concluded an order processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of our website visitors’ data and prohibits unauthorised disclosure to third parties.

For data transfers to the USA, the provider participates in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which ensures compliance with the European level of data protection on the basis of an adequacy decision by the European Commission.

8.3 Zoom
We use this provider to conduct online meetings, video conferences and/or webinars: Zoom Video Communications Inc, 55 Almaden Blvd, Suite 600, San Jose, CA 95113, USA

The provider processes different data, whereby the scope of the processed data depends on the data you provide before or during the participation in an online meeting, video conference or webinar. Your data as a communication participant is processed and stored on servers of the provider. This may include, in particular, your registration data (name, e-mail address, telephone number (optional) and password) and session data (topic, participant IP address, device information, description (optional)). In addition, participants’ image and sound contributions as well as voice input in chats may be processed.

For the processing of personal data that is necessary for the performance of a contract with you (this also applies to processing operations that are necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures), Art. 6 (1) point b GDPR serves as the legal basis. If you have given us your consent to process your data, the processing is based on Art. 6 (1) point a GDPR. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future.
In addition, the legal basis for data processing when conducting online meetings, video conferences or webinars is our legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6 (1) point f GDPR in the effective conduct of the online meeting, webinar or video conference.

We have concluded an order processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of our website visitors’ data and prohibits unauthorised disclosure to third parties.

For data transfers to the USA, the provider participates in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which ensures compliance with the European level of data protection on the basis of an adequacy decision by the European Commission.

8.4 Microsoft Forms
We use the services of the following provider to conduct surveys or for online forms: Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399, USA

In addition to a transfer of data to the above-mentioned provider location, data may also be transferred to: Microsoft Corporation, USA

The provider enables us to design and analyse surveys and online forms. In addition to the personal data that you enter into the forms, information on your operating system, browser, date and time of your visit, referrer URL and your IP address is also collected, transferred to the provider and stored on the provider’s servers.

The information you enter in the forms is stored under password protection to ensure that third party access is excluded and that only we can analyse the data for the purpose specified in the form.

For the processing of personal data that is necessary for the performance of a contract with you (this also applies to processing operations that are necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures), Art. 6 (1) point b GDPR serves as the legal basis. If you have given us your consent for the processing of your data, the processing is based on Art. 6 (1) point a GDPR. Consent given can be revoked at any time with effect for the future.

We have concluded an order processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of our website visitors’ data and prohibits unauthorised disclosure to third parties.

For data transfers to the USA, the provider participates in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which ensures compliance with the European level of data protection on the basis of an adequacy decision by the European Commission.

9) Tools and Miscellaneous

9.1 Cookie-Consent-Tool
This website uses a so-called “cookie consent tool” to obtain effective user consent for cookies and cookie-based applications that require consent. The “cookie consent tool” is displayed to users in the form of an interactive user interface when they access the page, on which consent for certain cookies and/or cookie-based applications can be given by ticking the appropriate box. Through the use of the tool, all cookies/services requiring consent are only loaded if the respective user provides the corresponding consent by ticking the corresponding box. This ensures that such cookies are only set on the respective end device of the user if consent has been granted.

The tool sets technically necessary cookies to save your cookie preferences. Personal user data is generally not processed.
If, in individual cases, personal data (such as the IP address) is processed for the purpose of storing, assigning or logging cookie settings, this is done in accordance with Art. 6 (1) point f GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in legally compliant, user-specific and user-friendly consent management for cookies and thus in a legally compliant design of our website.

Further legal basis for the processing is Art. 6 (1) point c GDPR. As the responsible party, we are subject to the legal obligation to make the use of technically unnecessary cookies dependent on the respective user consent.

Further information on the operator and the setting options of the cookie consent tool can be found directly in the corresponding user interface on our website.

9.2 – sevDesk
We use the cloud-based accounting software service of the following provider to handle our accounting: sevDesk GmbH, Hauptstraße 115, 77652 Offenburg, Germany

The provider processes incoming and outgoing invoices and, where applicable, our company’s bank transactions in order to automatically record invoices, match them to the transactions and create the financial accounts from this in a semi-automated process.

If personal data is also processed in this process, the processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in the efficient organization and documentation of our business transactions.

9.3 Wordfence
For security purposes, this website uses the service of the following provider: Defiant Inc, 800 5th Ave Ste 4100, Seattle, WA 98104, USA

The provider protects the website and the associated IT infrastructure from unauthorised third-party access, cyber attacks and viruses and malware. The provider collects the IP addresses of users and, if necessary, further data on their behaviour on our website (in particular URLs accessed and header information) in order to detect and defend against illegitimate page accesses and dangers. In doing so, the collected IP address is compared with a list of known attackers. If the captured IP address is identified as a security risk, the provider can automatically block it from accessing the website. The information collected in this way is transferred to a server of the provider and stored there.

The described data processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 (1) point f GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interests in protecting the website from harmful cyber attacks and in maintaining structural and data integrity and security.

If visitors to the website have login rights, the provider also sets cookies (= small text files) on the respective end device used by the visitor. With the help of the cookies, certain location and device information can be read, which makes it possible to assess whether the login-authorised access originates from an authorised person. At the same time, access rights can be evaluated via the cookies and released via a website-internal firewall according to the authorisation level. Finally, the cookies are used to register irregular access by website administrators from new devices or new locations and to notify other administrators of this. These cookies are only set if a user has login rights. The provider does not set cookies for website visitors without login authorisation. Insofar as personal data is processed via the cookies, the processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 (1) point f GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in preventing illegitimate access to the website administration and in the defence against unauthorised administrator access.

We have concluded an order processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of our website visitors’ data and prohibits unauthorised disclosure to third parties.

For the transfer of data to the USA, the provider invokes standard contractual clauses of the European Commission, which are intended to ensure compliance with the European level of data protection.

10) Rights of the Data Subject
10.1 The applicable data protection law grants you the following comprehensive rights of data subjects (rights of information and intervention) vis-à-vis the data controller with regard to the processing of your personal data:

– Right of access by the data subject pursuant to Art. 15 GDPR;
– Right to rectification pursuant to Art. 16 GDPR;
– Right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”) pursuant to Art. 17 GDPR;
– Right to restriction of processing pursuant to Art. 18 GDPR;
– Right to be informed pursuant to Art. 19 GDPR;
– Right to data portability pursuant to Art. 20 GDPR;
– Right to withdraw a given consent pursuant to Art. 7 (3) GDPR;
– Right to lodge a complaint pursuant to Art. 77 GDPR.

10.2 RIGHT TO OBJECT

IF, WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF A CONSIDERATION OF INTERESTS, WE PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA ON THE BASIS OF OUR PREDOMINANT LEGITIMATE INTEREST, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AT ANY TIME TO OBJECT TO THIS PROCESSING WITH EFFECT FOR THE FUTURE ON THE GROUNDS THAT ARISE FROM YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION.

IF YOU EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO OBJECT, WE WILL STOP PROCESSING THE DATA CONCERNED. HOWEVER, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO FURTHER PROCESSING IF WE CAN PROVE COMPELLING REASONS WORTHY OF PROTECTION FOR PROCESSING WHICH OUTWEIGH YOUR INTERESTS, FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS, OR IF THE PROCESSING SERVES TO ASSERT, EXERCISE OR DEFEND LEGAL CLAIMS.

IF WE PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA WHICH ARE USED FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES. YOU MAY EXERCISE THE OBJECTION AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

IF YOU EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO OBJECT, WE WILL STOP PROCESSING THE DATA CONCERNED FOR DIRECT ADVERTISING PURPOSES.

11) Duration of Storage of Personal Data
The duration of the storage of personal data is based on the respective legal basis, the purpose of processing and – if relevant – on the respective legal retention period (e.g. commercial and tax retention periods).

If personal data is processed on the basis of an express consent pursuant to Art. 6 (1) point a GDPR, this data is stored until the data subject revokes his consent.

If there are legal storage periods for data that is processed within the framework of legal or similar obligations on the basis of Art. 6 (1) point b GDPR, this data will be routinely deleted after expiry of the storage periods if it is no longer necessary for the fulfillment of the contract or the initiation of the contract and/or if we no longer have a justified interest in further storage.

When processing personal data on the basis of Art. 6 (1) point f GDPR, this data is stored until the data subject exercises his right of objection in accordance with Art. 21 (1) GDPR, unless we can provide compelling grounds for processing worthy of protection which outweigh the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject, or the processing serves to assert, exercise or defend legal claims.

If personal data is processed for the purpose of direct marketing on the basis of Art. 6 (1) point f GDPR, this data is stored until the data subject exercises his right of objection pursuant to Art. 21 (2) GDPR.

Unless otherwise stated in the information contained in this declaration on specific processing situations, stored personal data will be deleted if it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or otherwise processed.